Orryelle is intensely creative and deeply versed in esoteric symbolism, making magic through art and performance. His very presence alters the atmosphere in a room and it’s clear that his artwork is integral to his very being, as well as a continuation of an interaction that artists, gods, and goddesses have been having for millennia.
“Distillatio is the final volume in Orryelle’s four-fold Alchymic book-web The Tela Quadrivium. For eight years Orryelle worked only in black and white (with touches of gold and silver) for the previous volumes in the series, but in the last few years he has been exploring the alchemy of Colour in diverse media for this culminating volume…
“Each volume of the Tela Quadrivium series connects into a multi-directional and spiraling narrative of images, symbols and text to form a greater whole which has now been distilled into completion. As the culminating volume of the Tela Quadrivium, Distillatio provides the reader with the final pieces in an intricate esoteric puzzle, bringing together the book-web entire.”
In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, Orryelle talks more about his amazing magical artwork and performances, as well as his recent artist residency at the Star and Snake. Also, Orryelle performs a special chanted incantation that’s not to be missed. Just go to occultofpersonality.net/membership and click Join Now, if you haven’t already. It’s the best way to support the podcast while receiving access to a tremendous amount of additional exclusive content.Esoterotica Gallery – artwork by Orryelle Defenestrate-BasculeDistillatio by Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule
“Alchymical Chess”
“Alchemical Chess & Dionysian Regeneration with Orryelle” at Catland in Brooklyn, NY on Fri., June 24Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule in Occult of Personality podcast episode 74
intro music by Paul Avgerinos & Orryelle Defenstrate-Bascule
outro music – “Alchymical Chess” by Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule]]>Greg Kaminskyyes43:16Gary Lachmanhttp://occultofpersonality.net/gary-lachman/
http://occultofpersonality.net/gary-lachman/#respondTue, 31 May 2016 19:27:43 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2220http://occultofpersonality.net/gary-lachman/feed/0Gary Lachman, author of The Secret Teachers of the Western World, and many other books on esoteric themes, is our guest in podcast episode 165. “Gary Lachman is one of today’s most respected writers on esoteric and occult themes.Gary Lachman, author of The Secret Teachers of the Western World, and many other books on esoteric themes, is our guest in podcast episode 165.
“Gary Lachman is one of today’s most respected writers on esoteric and occult themes. His many books – including Madame Blavatsky, Aleister Crowley, Swedenborg, Jung the Mystic, and Rudolf Steiner – have received international acclaim. A founding member of the band Blondie, Lachman has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He lives in London and you can find his web site at garylachman.co.uk.”
“This epic study unveils the esoteric masters who have covertly impacted the intellectual development of the West, from Pythagoras and Zoroaster to the modern icons Jean Gebser and Schwaller de Lubicz.
“Running alongside the mainstream of Western intellectual history is another current, which, in a very real sense, should take pride of place, but which for the last few centuries has occupied a shadowy, inferior position, somewhere underground. This “other” stream forms the subject of Gary Lachman’s sweeping history and analysis The Secret Teachers of the Western World.
“In this clarifying, accessible, and fascinating study, the acclaimed historian explores the Western esoteric tradition – a thought movement with ancient roots and modern expressions, which, in a broad sense, regards the cosmos as a living, spiritual, meaningful being and humankind as having a unique obligation and responsibility in it.
“The historical roots of our “counter tradition,” as Lachman explores, have their beginning in Alexandria around the time of Christ. It was then that we find the first written accounts of the ancient tradition, which had earlier been passed on orally. Here, in this remarkable city, filled with teachers, philosophers, and mystics from Egypt, Greece, Asia, and other parts of the world, in a multi-cultural, multi-faith, and pluralistic society, a synthesis took place, a creative blending of different ideas and visions, which gave the hidden tradition the eclectic character it retains today.
“With many detours and dead ends, we now seem to be slowly moving into a watershed. It has become clear that the dominant, left-brain, reductionist view, once so liberating and exciting, has run out of steam, and the promise of that much-sought-after “paradigm change” seems possible. We may be on the brink of a culminating moment of the esoteric intellectual tradition of the West.”Jean Gebser (1905-1973)
“It was, we remember, the fusion of the old and new that characterized the Renaissance, and we seek as similar “Goldilocks moment,” when the balance between the two [modes of consciousness] will be “just right.” And while I am not suggesting that we are definitely on the cusp of a similarly creative time – I make no prophecy of yet another new age – there is no reason to believe such an outcome is impossible. Making it possible is up to us. Any lasting change must first take place in the individual. Future historians will have to determine the outcome and what, if anything, we today have learned from the secret teachers of the western world.” – Gary Lachman, The Secret Teachers of the Western World, p. 464Georgius Gemistus Plethon
I very much appreciated this most recent book by Gary Lachman because of the way he exp...]]>Greg Kaminskyyes1:00:57Nick Redfernhttp://occultofpersonality.net/nick-redfern/
http://occultofpersonality.net/nick-redfern/#commentsFri, 01 Apr 2016 22:10:45 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2202http://occultofpersonality.net/nick-redfern/feed/2Nick Redfern, author of Bloodline of the Gods: Unravel the Mystery of the Human Blood Type to Reveal the Aliens Among Us, is our guest in podcast episode 164. “Nick Redfern works full time as a writer, lecturer, and journalist.
Nick Redfern, author of Bloodline of the Gods: Unravel the Mystery of the Human Blood Type to Reveal the Aliens Among Us, is our guest in podcast episode 164.
“Nick Redfern works full time as a writer, lecturer, and journalist. He writes about a wide range of unsolved mysteries, including Bigfoot, UFOs, the Loch Ness Monster, alien encounters, and government conspiracies. Nick has written 33 books, including Men in Black, The Zombie Book, For Nobody’s Eyes Only, Final Events, Secret History, Monster Files, The World’s Weirdest Places, The Pyramids and the Pentagon, and Chupacabra Road Trip. He writes for the MUFON UFO Journal and Mysterious Universe. Nick has appeared on numerous television shows, including The History Channel’s Ancient Aliens, Monster Quest, and UFO Hunters, National Geographic Channel’s The Truth about UFOs and Paranatural, BBC’s Out of this World, and SyFy Channel’s Proof Positive.”

“Are significant numbers of humanity the product of an ancient and advanced alien civilization? Have we, across the millennia, been periodically modified and refined as a species? In short, has our genetic make-up been manipulated by otherworldly beings that view human civilization as one big lab experiment?
“These are controversial and thought-provoking questions. They are also questions that demand answers, answers that may very well be found by examining those people whose blood type is Rh negative.
“The vast majority of humankind–85 to 90 percent–is Rh positive, which means a person’s red blood cells contain an antigen directly connected to the Rhesus monkey. This antigen is known as the Rh factor.
“Each and every primate on the planet has this antigen, except for one: the remaining 10 to 15 percent of humans. If the theory of evolution is valid–that each and every one of us is descended from ancient primates–shouldn’t we all be Rh positive? Yes, we should. But we’re not. The Negatives are unlike the rest of us. They are different.
“They are the unique individuals whose bloodline may have nothing less than extraterrestrial origins.”
The nature of the differences between Rh blood factors and the origin of those differences are intriguing. The actual evidence presented in the book is interesting and a starting point. The blood factor difference, while intriguing needs more evidence in order to connect it with the the mysteries of the ancient and modern world, in my opinion. You can hear from the interview that Nick has incredible insight, depth of experience, and knowledge about the subject that he generously shares. Read Bloodline of the Gods and decide for yourself!
In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, UFOlogist and author Nick Redfern shares his insights about my own UFO experience and its possible meaning, the high-strangeness and associated esoterica connected with UFOs, and more. Be sure to listen to that captivating conversation! Just go to http://occultofpersonality.net/membership/ and click the Join Now button to subscribe. Not only will you receive access to an amazing archive of exclusive content, but you’ll also be supporting the show!

]]>Greg Kaminskyyes1:09:56Whence Came You?http://occultofpersonality.net/whence-came-you/
http://occultofpersonality.net/whence-came-you/#respondThu, 24 Mar 2016 15:32:14 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2187http://occultofpersonality.net/whence-came-you/feed/0Bro. Robert Johnson, the creator, host, and writer for the Whence Came You? podcast, along with Frater O, the co-host and esoteric advisor for the show, are our guests in podcast episode 163. “This site and blog are dedicated to providing insightful in...
Bro. Robert Johnson, the creator, host, and writer for the Whence Came You? podcast, along with Frater O, the co-host and esoteric advisor for the show, are our guests in podcast episode 163.
“This site and blog are dedicated to providing insightful information to Freemasons and men interested in Freemasonry. There are Masonic research papers, discussion pieces and some small editorial pieces related to Freemasonry. It is hosted by Robert Johnson, a York Rite Freemason and Knight Templar. He is a husband and father, and in addition is an interfaith minister.”
Whence Came You? is the premier Masonic podcast, providing light to Freemasons and men interested in Freemasonry. A weekly show, with over 200 episodes completed and going strong, Whence Came You? is a brilliant method of bringing the history, teachings, and conversations about Freemasonry to the digital age. Robert Johnson and his co-host Frater O do a superb job of exploring the esoteric aspects of Freemasonry and the world in general, fulfilling a need for many Masons.
In addition to hearing about Bro. Robert’s and Frater O’s interest in esotericism and Freemasonry, Robert explains his journey to begin the Whence Came You? podcast and how it’s grown so prominent in a relatively short time. We also spend a considerable portion of the interview discussing a couple of state grand lodge edicts that expelled Masons for homosexuality in one case, and for pagan religious beliefs in another. Robert wrote a strongly worded statement (“Forcing Accountability“) detailing his thoughts about the situation and expressing his vehement disagreement with these expulsions. This leads into a conversation about equality and Freemasonry more generally that was unexpected and perhaps a bit challenging.
It was an honor and great joy to be able to talk with Bro. Robert and Frater O about their show and Freemasonry in general. If you’re interested in Freemasonry, the esoteric, Masonic history, and current events within the fraternity, Whence Came You? podcast is required listening. But even if you’re not a Mason, the show is so well done and interesting that there’s something there for anyone interested in Western esotericism and fraternity.
In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, Bro. Robert Johnson and Frater O share their insights into the esoteric significance of the Three Degrees of Blue Lodge Masonry connected with the occult anatomy of man, the concept of primordial consciousness, how to find the esoteric hidden in plain sight, and much, much more! Join us for that excellent second half of the interview by going to occultofpersonality.net/membership and clicking the Join Now button to subscribe.Whence Came You? podcast
“Forcing Accountability” by Robert H. Johnson
]]>Greg Kaminskyyes1:11:13Gordon Whitehttp://occultofpersonality.net/gordon-white/
http://occultofpersonality.net/gordon-white/#commentsThu, 25 Feb 2016 05:59:04 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2164http://occultofpersonality.net/gordon-white/feed/1Gordon White, author of Star.Ships: A Prehistory of the Spirits, published by Scarlet Imprint, is our guest in podcast episode 162. “Gordon White is one of the most exciting writers of modern magic. His website, RuneSoup.
Gordon White, author of Star.Ships: A Prehistory of the Spirits, published by Scarlet Imprint, is our guest in podcast episode 162.
“Gordon White is one of the most exciting writers of modern magic. His website, RuneSoup.com is one of the most widely read practical sorcery blogs on the internet. In his digital œuvre he engages with everything from entheogens, synchronicities, UFOs, ‘alternative’ history, career guidance, graphic novels, the future of media, probability and divination to pop culture. His archonology series crowns him as the dark prince of modern chaos magic. Smart, urbane, funny and worldly wise, Gordon has the ability to cut through swathes of data to reveal the patterns and forces at play in the world, and to propose hacks and magical interventions.
“Gordon White is no basement mage, he is a success in many spheres, working for some of the world’s largest digital and social media companies. In a life that few experience, he has partied with princes, dined in castles, been mentored by a former director of a private spy agency and had a billionaire knight buy him a bottle of champagne; he brings the same chameleon skills to his magical work. Gordon has dived in search of sharks and lost cities, traveled extensively and researched voraciously. Though known for his grasp of current events, his ideas are based on a deeper understanding of our disputed ancient histories. These are the subject of his book with Scarlet Imprint, Star.Ships: A Prehistory of the Spirits.”
“A defining text of the new magical renaissance, Star.Ships addresses the question of who we are now by tracing where we come from, and by drawing out the stories and the spirits that have journeyed and evolved with us. The goal is, as Gordon writes, the restoration of context.
“To this end, White applies his globally-recognised data and demographics skills to realise a groundbreaking work of truly interdisciplinary research. Utilising mythological, linguistic and astronomical data to reconstruct paleolithic magical beliefs, he maps them to the human journey out of Africa; explores which aspects of these beliefs and practices have survived into the Western tradition; and what the implications (and applications) of those survivals may be for us.
“Written for a magically literate and operative audience, Star.Ships displays the flair, wit and engagement with evidence that adherents of his Rune Soup blog have come to expect from Gordon. He deftly handles vast time scales and cosmologies to build his case; avoids the pitfalls of alternative historians with a refreshing absence of dogma or wishful thinking; and, in a masterful deployment of the latest research, simultaneously questions outworn dominant narratives and is not afraid to champion the work of independent researchers and entertain forbidden discourses. It is exactly what chaos magic should be.
“Göbekli Tepe, the Pyramids and Sphinx, Nabta Playa, Gunung Padang, Easter Island and Sundaland are some of the points spangled across a work of truly cosmic scope. Star.Ships beckons those who are willing to engage in the adventure to follow the great river of history that flows into and out of an ocean of stars…”
In my opinion, Gordon White has produced a brilliant book that changes our understanding of humanity’s history by extending our ...]]>Greg Kaminskyyes1:07:44The Way of the Templar with Timothy Hoganhttp://occultofpersonality.net/the-way-of-the-templar-with-timothy-hogan/
http://occultofpersonality.net/the-way-of-the-templar-with-timothy-hogan/#respondTue, 09 Feb 2016 00:29:08 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2157http://occultofpersonality.net/the-way-of-the-templar-with-timothy-hogan/feed/0Author Timothy Hogan is our guest in podcast episode 161 to discuss his most recent book The Way of the Templar: A Manual for the Modern Knight Templar. Timothy Hogan is an author and lecturer on the mysteries of the Western esoteric tradition.
Author Timothy Hogan is our guest in podcast episode 161 to discuss his most recent book The Way of the Templar: A Manual for the Modern Knight Templar.

“This is not a standard book on the Knights Templar. This book is a manual for the modern day Knight Templar. This book includes the secret history of the Templar Order, much of which has never been published in one place like this before. The book also contains an exploration of the Templar philosophy and challenges for the future. Rather than just exploring profane Templar history, this book provides the story behind the story. Regardless of what Templar lineage you may or may not belong to, the information provided in these pages are sure to resonate with anyone who has the heart of a Templar. It is a book written to prepare the Way for the Gnosis of the Grail, and to provide a sense of mission and direction to those brave chevalier preparing to do the Great Work in the Aquarian House we are collectively entering. Non nobis Domine, non nobis. Sed nomine Tuo da gloriam!”

“The Knight Templar … the warrior monk … the Grail guardian. Such images conjure thoughts in the imagination that have inspired some to the greatest acts of nobility on the one hand, and have led others into escapism or worse – into zealous fanaticism with ideas of crusading against the others in the One human family… [R]egardless of what tradition or lineages a would be Templar comes from, it should be stressed, that the heart of a true Templar is found in one who desires with all of their being to protect the sacred – regardless of its source… By its very nature then, the foundation of Templarism rests on a gnosis, or a direct personal experiential knowledge of God and the divine – regardless of what cultural names are used for this Source. To keep this principle in mind is to drink from the Holy Grail.” – Timothy Hogan, Introduction, p.9-10

Timothy Hogan is a listener favorite for a number of reasons and it’s always a pleasure to hear the revelations he shares! The Way of the Templar reveals a good amount of information that I’ve never seen anywhere before which does fill in a lot of gaps. Whether you find it convincing or too convenient, I think it’s worth reading. I also appreciated the less fundamentalist and more tolerant perspective promoted by Hogan in this book. Additionally,]]>Greg Kaminskyyes1:10:19Natan Alexander and the Magickal Art of Tattoohttp://occultofpersonality.net/natan-alexander-and-the-magickal-art-of-tattoo/
http://occultofpersonality.net/natan-alexander-and-the-magickal-art-of-tattoo/#respondSun, 03 Jan 2016 01:47:00 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2146http://occultofpersonality.net/natan-alexander-and-the-magickal-art-of-tattoo/feed/0Artist Natan Alexander is our guest in podcast episode 160 to discuss the magickal art of tattoo and more. “Natan Alexander is an award winning tattoo artist, an officer of the Ordo Templi Orientis at Knights Templar Oasis in Salem, Massachusetts,
Artist Natan Alexander is our guest in podcast episode 160 to discuss the magickal art of tattoo and more.

“Natan Alexander is an award winning tattoo artist, an officer of the Ordo Templi Orientis at Knights Templar Oasis in Salem, Massachusetts, and an occult artist working in various mediums in addition to tattooing. He owns and works out of Witch City Ink, Salem’s finest tattoo studio, and Lightwave Tattoos, in Saugus, Massachusetts. Once a year, Natan also organizes the Boston Tattoo Convention, the largest international tattoo event in the New England area and now in its fifteenth year.”

“Thelema and magick have been a huge shaping force in Natan’s development, both as an individual and as an artist. As a Master Mason for over a decade and a member of the A.’. A.’. , he brings an initiate’s understanding of the symbolism and inner meanings behind the art he creates. Natan is a regular and devoted world traveler, researching the origins and energies of the cultures and ideas that inspire his art.”

I’ve known Natan personally for a several years now and consider him a friend and brother. His artwork is truly magickal and has the power to transform. Creative, talented, well-spoken, well-traveled, and with years of magickal practice under his belt, Natan’s success is built upon a solid foundation. I think you’ll enjoy this interview as much as I did, and don’t miss the second half of the interview in the membership section!

In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, artist Natan Alexander discusses his near lifelong interest in Thelema and magick, the Star & Snake artist residency and retreat space, altered states of consciousness, advice on achieving success in magick and in life, and much, much more. Don’t miss that fascinating conversation. Just go to occultofpersonality.net/membership and join now. It’s the best way to support the podcast while receiving access to a tremendous amount of additional exclusive content.

To spin or not to spin? – that is the metaphysical question.
When a mortifying defeat to his teenage son rekindles his lifelong passion for table tennis, keen philosopher Guido Mina di Sospiro sets out to learn the game properly.
Guido’s love for spinning a feather-weight ball takes him from his local ping-pong club, populated by idiosyncratic players with extraordinary stories to tell, to training drills with a world-class coach. This seemingly harmless game also leads him into sticky situations in the CIA headquarters and the ganglands of Washington, D.C. Woven throughout his ping-pong epiphany are philosophical ruminations on Plato and Aristotle, metaphysicians and empiricists, Jung’s dark shadow, Sun Tzu’s war tactics, the I Ching, and much more.
As Guido’s journey takes him from Big Sur to a nail-biting showdown in China against a string of elite players, he finds ping-pong can teach us a surprising amount about life.

“Erudite, experimental and engaging, Mina di Sospiro has given us a work that breaks new ground. Whether or not you ever pick up a paddle, The Metaphysics of Ping-Pong provides an initiation into a visionary life, igniting the fires of inspiration through an intriguing intimacy with the mysteries of daily life that is available nowhere else.” – David Metcalfe, The Daily Grail

“Down the centuries Taoism, Zen, and Sufism have created a large repertoire of short and seemingly mundane stories whose goal is that of violating logic and challenging our assumptions. Twentieth-century traditionalists have done much of the same by turning received notions upside down. Ping-pong, as i will show, has so many baffling and refreshingly illogical qualities about it that, whenever I happened to play an occasional game, somehow it echoed inside me in a new and increasingly more resonant way. And as a result, I marveled all the more at how magical it was to spin that little ball and make it fly and bounce on the table and off the opponent’s racket in mysterious ways.” – Guido Mina di Sospiro, Prelude to The Metaphysics of Ping-Pong, p. 7

The Metaphysics of Ping Pong is another wonderful work from Mina di Sospiro. Examining the cosmos through the lens of table tennis provides an unexpected tour de force of that cannot be pigeonholed. The Metaphysics of Ping Pong is one of the most accessible books ever featured on this program, all while maintaining the loftiest of conversations with the reader. This tale of initiation and Perennial Philosophy is rather refreshing.

Guido Mina di Sospiro has been fascinated by table tennis since childhood and regularly plays competitively. An award-winning, internationally acclaimed author, he has written four books published worldwide; among them is The Forbidden Book: A Novel, coauthored with the scholar of Western esotericism Joscelyn Godwin. Mina di Sospiro also maintains a blog on the New York-based web-magazine yes1:21:26Wicca – The Ancient Wayhttp://occultofpersonality.net/wicca-the-ancient-way/
http://occultofpersonality.net/wicca-the-ancient-way/#commentsThu, 22 Oct 2015 05:15:59 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2118http://occultofpersonality.net/wicca-the-ancient-way/feed/2Wicca: The Ancient Way, recently re-published by the Hermetic Arts Learning Center, is the subject of podcast episode 158. We’re joined by Apollonius Mithras who is part of the Isis-Urania lineage of Traditional Witchcraft,Wicca: The Ancient Way, recently re-published by the Hermetic Arts Learning Center, is the subject of podcast episode 158. We’re joined by Apollonius Mithras who is part of the Isis-Urania lineage of Traditional Witchcraft, the same that produced this text.

“The now passing Aeon or Age of Pisces has seen western man almost completely lose his working knowledge and direct experience of the Mysteries and replace it with faith and superstition. As the Sun moves into the sign of the water-bearer, Aquarius, the awakener, mankind finds faith alone to be insufficient. Thus he begins again the search for the Old Gods, for the “knowledge of the spirit eternal, and certainty, not faith.” In his innocence, man has always looked outward to the external world and his own projections for truth. All religions, sciences, and technologies arise from this tendency. But the more answers we find, the more questions we ask. Unsatisfied and unfulfilled with our answers, we have become more and more fascinated by our own projections and further from our goal. But the rhythm of the New Age now grows to a louder, more distinct beat, and as understanding grows, man turns away from his invented gods and looks deeper into himself to find reality and the meaning of life. And so it is: the Old Gods move upon the face of the Earth once again in power and presence, as mankind prepares for his journey unto the kingdom of Our Lady, Queen of Infinite Space, whose name is also Understanding.”

“The purpose of this book is to acquaint the reader with the existence of a living, initiated, and Traditional Mystery religion. It was written … partly as a reaction to misconceptions and misrepresentations outside and inside the Craft, but mainly to convey clearly the tenets and teachings of the Wicca, what it means to be a “Witch,” and what our goals are. Hopefully this little book will give the reader a glimpse of Traditional Witchcraft from the inside, as the initiates themselves see it. In this way, we sincerely hope to banish some of the common misconceptions and general ignorance on the subject of Wicca.”

“Wicca the Ancient Way is a small book of non-fictional and inspirational pieces of value for students and practitioners of all types of Wicca and Witchcraft. It presents the existence of an ancient tradition of Witchcraft of European origin, now practiced by some English speaking Witches.”

“Not a spell book, nor a book of rituals, it contains 9 pieces of thought provoking and defining works of Traditional Wicca, including:
• the Attitudes and Qualities of a True Witch, calling upon witches to aspire to the loftiest goals

• the Gods of the Wicca, explaining how so many gods can be respected, yet treated by witches as just two and even One

• the Mighty Ones, explaining the children of the God and Goddess of witches, constant companions and aid to the Traditional Wicca

• the Training of a Witch, giving an overview of the kind of training that is undergone in Traditional Wicca

• the Three Degrees, providing insight into the stages of training, spiritual growth and spiritual development that is at the core of Traditional Wicca

• the Protectors of the Craft, talks about different manifestations of Wicca and Witchcraft, and how they all have their place in protecting the tradition

• The Grand Sabbath: All-Hallows Eve, is an inspirational piece about the most hallowed night of the year for Traditional Witches: Hallowe’en. It explains why this night is the way it is, and why this night is so important to Witches

In a blend of biography, personal essay, and a rendition of deeply researched metaphysical and Mexican history that reads like a novel, award-winning writer and noted literary translator C.M. Mayo provides a rich introduction and the first translation of the secret book by Francisco I. Madero, leader of Mexico’s 1910 Revolution and President of Mexico from 1911 to 1913.

“Mayo… provides not only an English translation of Madero’s Spiritist Manual, but also a lively intoduction… The author argues effectively that Madero’s manual is essential to understanding his revolutionary zeal.” – Kirkus Reviews
“In this delightfully engaging book, C.M. Mayo brings to vivid light an aspect of Mexican history astonishingly neglected by most historians: the Spiritist beliefs and practices of Francisco Madero, instigator and first leader of the world-historical event that was the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Fruit of considerable research, this volume includes the first translation into English of Madero’s Spiritist Manual, itself an invaluable contribution to the historical record.” – José Skinner, University of Texas-Pan American
“Mayo does brilliant job combining the known facts of the Mexican Revolution and Madero’s role within it, and creates an intellectual bridge to the president’s spiritist belief structure…With her translation of the Spiritist Manual, C.M. Mayo opened this incredible window into the metaphysical side of the Mexican Revolution” – Heribert von Feilitzsch, author of In Plain Sight: Felix Sommerfeld, Spymaster in Mexico

I found C.M. Mayo’s book to be very engaging and well-written. This is not your typical history, or even esoteric history book. Mayo is a profoundly creative and insightful artist who is able to bring her own perspective into the frame while enhancing our understanding of her subjects. This is a masterful introduction to a topic that hasn’t been explored in this accessible way before, and may never be again. If you enjoy esotericism, history, politics, and the way that they sometimes intersect, I highly recommend you read C.M. Mayo’s Metaphysical Odyssey into the Mexican Revolution.

In addition to discussing Francisco I. Madero, Spiritism, and the Mexican Revolution,]]>Greg KaminskyyesCarl Abrahamssonhttp://occultofpersonality.net/carl-abrahamsson/
http://occultofpersonality.net/carl-abrahamsson/#respondWed, 29 Jul 2015 18:18:05 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2088http://occultofpersonality.net/carl-abrahamsson/feed/0Carl Abrahamsson, author of the anthology Reasonances, published by Scarlet Imprint, is our guest in podcast episode 156. In addition to his writings, Abrahamsson is known for his work in music, film, art, culture, and occulture.Carl Abrahamsson, author of the anthology Reasonances, published by Scarlet Imprint, is our guest in podcast episode 156. In addition to his writings, Abrahamsson is known for his work in music, film, art, culture, and occulture.

Reasonances is ​an anthology of selected essays, lectures and interviews by​ occultural pioneer Carl Abrahamsson. A subversive, creative, psychedelic collection of 23 essays spanning thirteen years at the forefront of occulture and magic​, and an interview with the author by Sylvie Walder​. The unifying question of this diverse and stimulating collection can perhaps be stated thus: how does magic hack culture? Or perhaps even: what is the role and magic of the artist?

Abrahamsson proposes strategies of engagement that ​draw from TOPY, Thelema and Satanism, with which he is intimately acquainted. His magic is that of the interzone, the hinterland, of the unseen forces that drive culture forward. Reasonances is therefore a nexus of heretical possibilities investigated with ​a ​calm reflection that goes beyond his native Scandinavian cool. It is with great generosity of spirit, a candour and lack of dogma that he outlines his understanding of magic as art. For Abrahamsson, boundless creativity is a necessary expression of Will. He suggests that we should be actively producing culture, artifacts, music, artworks, happenings. And that these ‘​facts on the ground’ could be understood as a Gesamtkunstwerk, the Mega Golem, that will leak into popular and unpopular consciousness. He wants us to reason, to act, to live with meaning. To do our Will.

With an understanding of Magician as Artist, in a process of moving from what is hidden to what becomes seen, he employs a methodology that has become apparent in the thirteen years of work that this collection represents. Essays on the history of occult art, the formula of Babalon ​as supra-sexual transformation​, the mechanics of magic, and more, provide a complete vision of a magician who is engaged with ​counterculture, ​occulture​​ and incursions into the wider culture. Furthermore, he provides a constellation of ​Stars by which to navigate these evolving realms. Japanese masochist and master writer Yukio Mishima and German novelist Ernst Jü​nger are considered, as are Bulwer Lytton of Vril fame and Australian artist Rosaleen Norton. He ​twice ​interviews artist of light Kenneth Anger, and is found in conversation with Beat avant-garde filmmaker Conrad Rooks. He recites his death rune for mentor Anton LaVey, and eulogises his friend Lady Jaye. These ‘stars’​ are carefully observed with his astrolabe, enabling us to see into the past, comprehend where we are ​in the present, and project ourselves forward into a magical future.

“Carl Abrahamsson’s book is many things: a prismatic net of reflections on Twentieth-Century occultism, art, and their overlaps; a philosophical engagement with the porous border between the magical and artistic processes; a surprisingly hopeful walking along the knife edge of market nihilism, ecological disaster, political corruption, technological acceleration and the dawning of a new way of life; an extended meditation on death and the fragmentary remains of artists and magicians past; a call for the creation of a new divinity, the Mega Golem.
“Reasonances is a book of missed appointments, uncompleted artworks, lost connections. For Abrahamsson there will be no future revels with Anton LaVey in San Francisco, though we are graced with a living sense of LaVey’s life and effect as a master magician. We may never know what the moviemaker, Conrad Rooks,]]>Greg Kaminskyyes54:04Craig Williams’ Cave of the Numinoushttp://occultofpersonality.net/craig-williams-cave-of-the-numinous/
http://occultofpersonality.net/craig-williams-cave-of-the-numinous/#respondSun, 14 Jun 2015 03:57:02 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2078http://occultofpersonality.net/craig-williams-cave-of-the-numinous/feed/0Craig Williams, author of Cave of the Numinous: Tantric Physics I, from Theion Publishing, returns as our guest in podcast episode 155. “Highly anticipated and the result of over 25 years of initiatic study within authentic Guru lineages,Craig Williams, author of Cave of the Numinous: Tantric Physics I, from Theion Publishing, returns as our guest in podcast episode 155.

“Highly anticipated and the result of over 25 years of initiatic study within authentic Guru lineages, Cave of the Numinous by Craig Williams is one of the very few genuine expositions of the Left Hand Path in general and Left Handed Tantra in particular… Radical in its approach, the Tantric way of the Dark Goddess is a most intense and dangerous pathway towards spiritual liberation and power. Sexual alchemy, Guru Yoga, antinomian ritual and complex interactions of various Vedic sciences form a fascinating universe of spiritual transformation within which the wayfarer may attain to the supreme freedom of Kaivalya or suffer utter destruction. In Cave of the Numinous, Craig Williams expounds on most important roots of Left Hand practice and guides us into the nocturnal inner and outer environments which the practitioner must establish in order to successfully progress along the Vama Marga. Complete with rituals and glossary, this book is an invaluable resource and manual for every serious occultist and esoteric explorer, particularly for those of the Left Handed Gnosis. Cave of the Numinous features the exclusive essay “Supreme Katabasis: Kaivalya and the Kosmic Gnosis” by David Beth as an introduction.”

“More than a book, the Cave of the Numinous by Craig Williams (Yogacharya Dharma Rakshaka) is a companion for the journey of initiation into esoteric Hinduism. At 159 pages, it is a concise though challenging work, intended for the dedicated initiate of Left-hand Tantra, as well as other Gnostic and esoteric currents that might articulate the Mysteries through comparable symbols and teachings. It is a work that should be read slowly, methodically, and, undoubtedly, more than once or twice… As Williams makes clear in Cave of the Numinous … the aim of Left-hand Tantra is not merely to harmonize mind and body, nor to rid the person of undesirable traits, or to dissolve karma. It is the immersion of the initiate in, and their transformation through, the Gnosis of the Dark goddess. Cave of the Numinous is undoubtedly one of the most challenging books on esoteric Hinduism, precisely because it aims to simultaneously penetrate the heart of this Mystery tradition and the heart of spiritual seeker. Its lessons may not be for everyone, but they should at least be carefully considered by anyone on the journey of initiation, or that hope for authentic Gnosis.” – Angel Millar, “Real Left-Hand Tantra: A Review of Cave of The Numinous”

Craig Williams is one of the most innovative and important contemporary occult Gnostics and is a close personal student of David Beth. He is a Bishop of the Ecclesia Gnostica Aeterna and a highly empowered adept of Esoteric Voudon. Moving beyond a conservative myopic view of Vedic Studies, Williams has evolved a unique system of Esoteric Hinduism and Left Hand Tantra over 25 years of initiatic study in Yoga, Ayurveda, Tantra, Jyotish and Vedanta. With undergraduate degrees in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and English Literature and a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine, Craig lives in Austin, Texas where he operates a busy private medical practice specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Ayurveda.]]>Greg Kaminskyyes1:03:16The Crescent and the Compass with Angel Millarhttp://occultofpersonality.net/the-crescent-and-the-compass-with-angel-millar/
http://occultofpersonality.net/the-crescent-and-the-compass-with-angel-millar/#respondFri, 01 May 2015 05:26:54 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2067http://occultofpersonality.net/the-crescent-and-the-compass-with-angel-millar/feed/0Angel Millar, author of the groundbreaking new book The Crescent and the Compass: Islam, Freemasonry, Esotericism, and Revolution in the Modern Age, published by Numen Books, is our guest in podcast episode 154.Angel Millar, author of the groundbreaking new book The Crescent and the Compass: Islam, Freemasonry, Esotericism, and Revolution in the Modern Age, published by Numen Books, is our guest in podcast episode 154.

“From the middle of the nineteenth century, Islam and Freemasonry came to be connected in strange but significant ways that, ultimately, helped shape the world we are living in today. Prominent Muslims that were Freemasons, at least for a period include:

“Moreover, although Freemasonry is often seen, today, as an “old boys’ club,” that was not how Muslims of the nineteenth century viewed it, or why they joined.
“Although he quickly became disillusioned, ʿAbd al-Qādir viewed Freemasonry as a brotherhood of man that held out the possibility of transcending religious and ethnic divisions, though (unlike communism or socialism) still believing in God, while al-Afghani attempted to use his membership of Freemasonry to promote his radical, political, anti-Western, message in the Middle East.In Britain, Quilliam — a prolific defender of the rights of Muslims — was involved with several of the more secretive spiritual, esoteric, and initiatic forms of Freemasonry (many Freemasons would have been unaware that such societies existed).
“Islam and Freemasonry also captured the imagination of some of the most important spiritual adventurers in the West. Freemason and occultist Aleister Crowley, for example, authored the little known Scented Garden of Abdullah. According to Crowley, the book — which is based on Sufi poetry, and contained Arabic script as well as English in the original edition — transcended both the Hindu Bhagavad Gita and the Tao Te Ching. Likewise, having grown up Catholic, before becoming a Freemason, French spiritual thinker René Guénon later adopted Islam, and spent his final years in Cairo. Guénon is best known for founding the Traditionalist school of metaphysics, which — though embracing all of the world’s major religions — produced many notable scholars of Islam.
“Some Masonic and “fringe Masonic” organizations were also founded, drawing on Islamic tradition. Most notably, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the “Shriners”) claimed, originally, to have descended from Sufism, and to be a Western equivalent of the Islamic mystical school.”

The Crescent and The Compass is the first book to explore the many connections between Muslim activists, Islamic spirituality, Freemasonry, and the Western spiritual underground, of the modern era.
“Shedding new light on the ideas of Islamic mysticism, ‘Traditionalism’ and the seeds of eastern gnosis hidden deep within western history, The Crescent And The Compass will hopefully spark a resurgence of exploration and dialogue between eastern and western fields of esoteric scholarship, allowing new ideas to emerge that can hopefully provide much-needed guidance out of the dark haze of fundamentalist thought… This is a vital work on the influence of Islamic gnosis on western streams of esoteric spirituality… It should be closely examined by all individuals interested in Islam and the West.” — Craig Williams,]]>Greg Kaminskyyes1:11:30Voices of Modern Gnosticismhttp://occultofpersonality.net/voices-of-modern-gnosticism/
http://occultofpersonality.net/voices-of-modern-gnosticism/#respondSat, 28 Mar 2015 16:16:55 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2044http://occultofpersonality.net/voices-of-modern-gnosticism/feed/0Podcast episode 153, a very special edition of Occult of Personality podcast, features the recording of the Voices of Modern Gnosticism panel discussion recorded on November 8, 2014 in Arlington, Massachusetts.
Podcast episode 153, a very special edition of Occult of Personality podcast, features the recording of the Voices of Modern Gnosticism panel discussion recorded on November 8, 2014 in Arlington, Massachusetts. This historic event showcased four clergy from gnostic churches in open discussion and was inspired and partially organized by panelist and former guest of the show, Craig Williams. Special thanks is also extended to Father Donald Donato and St. Sarah the Egyptian Parish of the Apostolic Johannite Church for graciously hosting the event.
The Panelists:

Craig Williams is one of the few westerners to receive the “Veda Kovid” and “Yogacharya” titles from David Frawley and the American Institute of Vedic Studies recognizing initiatic study in Yoga, Ayurveda, Tantra, Jyotish and Vedanta. He is also an ordained bishop within the Ecclesia Gnostica Aeterna. With undergraduate degrees in Religious Studies, Philosophy and English Literature and a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine, Craig lives in Austin, Texas where he has a private medical practice specializing in Ayurveda, Yoga, Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. He is a licensed acupuncturist and a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild and National Ayurvedic Medical Association. More information can be found at his website, http://www.AyurvedaAustin.com/. Cave of the Numinous, Craig’s highly acclaimed book on left-hand path tantra is available from Theion Publishing at http://www.theionpublishing.com/.

Mike Estell took his Ordo Templi Orientis Minerval initiation on the Ides of March, 1998 e.v. He is a member of the Committee of Four of Tahuti Chapter R+C, a founding member of Abrahadabra Oasis, a chartered initiator, and an ordained Priest of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (Gnostic Catholic Church). He was trained as a classical scholar at Berkeley and Yale, ultimately receiving a Ph.D. in Classics from Yale in 2000 e.v. He holds a second-degree black belt in traditional Japanese Shotokan karate, but has subsequently shifted his focus to Chinese internal martial arts. He was seated on the O.T.O. Electoral College in 2014 e.v.

Father Donald Donato is a priest and Rector for St. Sarah’s Parish of the Apostolic Johannite Church, Boston. He divides his time as Rector and as Director of Planning & Community Relations for a Massachusetts social services agency. Since 2006, Fr. Donald has written on the Johannite Tradition as the author of the blog In puris naturalibus, and he is the translator of The Lévitikon: The Gospels According to the Primitive Church, a controversial version of the Gospel of John discovered in 1804 by the founder of the modern Johannite Ch...]]>Greg Kaminskyyes2:01:09Gabriel Robertshttp://occultofpersonality.net/gabriel-roberts/
http://occultofpersonality.net/gabriel-roberts/#respondSun, 15 Mar 2015 02:44:59 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2035http://occultofpersonality.net/gabriel-roberts/feed/0Gabriel D. Roberts, author of The Quest for Gnosis: Spirituality Beyond Dogma, is our guest in podcast episode 152. “Gabriel Roberts is a theological scholar, researcher and public speaker whose specialization is discussing the nature of perception and...Gabriel D. Roberts, author of The Quest for Gnosis: Spirituality Beyond Dogma, is our guest in podcast episode 152.

“Gabriel Roberts is a theological scholar, researcher and public speaker whose specialization is discussing the nature of perception and belief. After 27 years of passionate searching and study, Roberts stepped away from his long held Christian faith into a more expansive and fluid worldview. The details and reasons are cataloged in his book, Born Again To Rebirth. His latest book, The Quest For Gnosis explores the roots of belief, the power of the ecstatic state in one’s spiritual life and the means by which a deeply satisfying spiritual life may be achieved outside of the bonds of dogma. The book contains Roberts’ transcribed interviews with many luminaries including Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, Graham Hancock, Daniele Bolelli, Peter J. Carroll, Hamilton Morris, Dr. Aaron Cheak, David Metcalfe, Randall Carlson, and Dr. Rick Strassman. Gabriel is continuing his research at the University of Washington in Tacoma as well as writing for VICE Magazine, Disinfo and Reality Sandwich.”

“The Quest For Gnosis is a primer for the conscientious mystic, a new Gnostic tome that honors the old gods, but makes way for a new balance of techno-mystic reason. This is for the practical magician in the making, the pioneer of the golden age that we can still bring to fruition. We are the Shamans of the wasteland, the war zone, the ghetto; wherever our tribe has us, we are the focal points that heal the minds and hearts of the wounded all around us. Every single person who I’ve spoken with for this book is good people. We may not agree with each other on everything, but in each of them I see a thread of color found nowhere else. Theirs is the thread that must be intertwined into the tapestry of our new-found Gnosis; they are the fibers of our unbreakable chord. And in this work, we can find a common ground, a fragile yet beautiful unity, a powerful psychonautical compound created to confound and shock the hellish system we find ourselves a part of. The illumination we carry together has the potential to keep the flickering hope of a golden age alive.” – Gabriel D. Roberts

]]>Greg KaminskyyesAngel Millarhttp://occultofpersonality.net/angel-millar/
http://occultofpersonality.net/angel-millar/#commentsSun, 08 Feb 2015 05:30:35 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2024http://occultofpersonality.net/angel-millar/feed/4Historian of Freemasonry and author Angel Millar returns to the show in podcast episode 151 to discuss his recently published book Freemasonry: Foundation of the Western Esoteric Tradition, available from Salamander and Sons.
Historian of Freemasonry and author Angel Millar returns to the show in podcast episode 151 to discuss his recently published book Freemasonry: Foundation of the Western Esoteric Tradition, available from Salamander and Sons. Millar was our guest previously in podcast episode 50 and he’s also the man behind People of Shambhala, a webzine dedicated to understanding the body and spirit in modernity, from meditation to martial arts, lifestyle to subcultures, philosophy to spirituality, and more.

Angel Millar is the author of Freemasonry: A History (Thunder Bay / Greenwich Editions, 2005). His articles on Freemasonry and the esoteric, and related subjects, have also been published in the Journal of Indo-European Studies, Philalethes, The Transactions of the American Lodge of Research, The Empire State Mason, and The Compleat Master (Grand Lodge of New York’s textbook for Masters of Lodges), among others. Millar has also presented lectures to Masonic Lodges, the Philosophy Department of Mensa NY, and The Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library of Grand Lodge, NY. He was initiated into Freemasonry in late 2001, and raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason in 2002. Millar later joined two invitational Masonic bodies, and took the Royal Arch and Knights Templar Degrees. He is also currently a full member of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism.

In the early 18th century the Masonic fraternity emerged to change the shape of the Western esoteric tradition forever. Within a few decades the fraternity had spawned numerous esoteric societies that claimed to communicate with spirits, teach the secrets of alchemy, and to perform rituals of healing. During the next century the still-surviving Masonic Rosicrucian society was established, attracting the founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn – William Wynn Westcott and S.L. MacGregor Mathers – and Theodor Reuss, co-founder of the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), among others.
Freemasonry: Foundation of the Western Esoteric Tradition explores the history of Western esotericism, beginning with the early Masonic Ritual, and its symbolism of natural law and death, essential to understanding the Craft, high-Degree Freemasonry, and the contemporary Western esoteric tradition. Other subjects explored include:

Freemasonry: Foundation of the Western Esoteric Tradition includes a series of 12 rare etchings by Hejonagogerus Nugir, originally published in Freymäurerische Versammlungsreden der Gold- und Rosenkreutzer des alten Systems (Amsterdam, 1779), presented here as plates.

Millar also has a new book coming out soon that deals with the intersections between Islam and Freemasonry. Entitled The Crescent and the Compass, this work is remarkably revealing, timely, and important. We spend the last portion of the interview discussing this soon to be released book.

In the yes1:01:21Magickal Art in the New Aeonhttp://occultofpersonality.net/magickal-art-in-the-new-aeon/
http://occultofpersonality.net/magickal-art-in-the-new-aeon/#commentsFri, 05 Dec 2014 03:38:53 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=2004http://occultofpersonality.net/magickal-art-in-the-new-aeon/feed/1Podcast episode 150 features the panel discussion from the 2014 OCCULT Arts Salon, entitled “Magickal Art in the New Aeon.” photo by Sean Hanney OCCULT Arts Salon 2014 was the second annual weekend long esoteric salon honoring, exploring,
Podcast episode 150 features the panel discussion from the 2014 OCCULT Arts Salon, entitled “Magickal Art in the New Aeon.”
photo by Sean HanneyOCCULT Arts Salon 2014 was the second annual weekend long esoteric salon honoring, exploring, and celebrating the intertwining vines which feed both magick and creative art. Featuring workshops/lectures, art exhibition/salon, panel discussion, performances, rituals, and masque. The primary intention of the panel discussion was to explore how ideas about divisions in time, ages or aeons, affect creativity and various movements in art, music, performance, and literature.
image by Bryce Churchill, Hexagram/Pentagram design inspired by Richard Ravish
The discussion was moderated by your host, Greg Kaminsky, and the panelists were (in order of appearance):

In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, subscribers can listen to a presentation on inner alchemy that was recorded at the Hermetic Arts Learning Center in Salem, Massachusetts on the evening of November 14, 2014, along with an additional offer for subscribers to participate in an ongoing series of online classes about inner alchemy. Membership provides access to a tremendous archive of additional interviews and teachings for a low monthly fee while helping to support the production and distribution of the show. Join now to receive access to all the exclusive content!
intro music by Paul Avgerinos
outro music – “Ritual” by Beth Quist]]>Greg KaminskyyesNicki Scullyhttp://occultofpersonality.net/nicki-scully/
http://occultofpersonality.net/nicki-scully/#respondSat, 01 Nov 2014 17:26:47 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1993http://occultofpersonality.net/nicki-scully/feed/0Internationally renowned healer and author Nicki Scully is our guest in podcast episode 149. “Nicki Scully has been teaching healing, shamanic arts, and the Egyptian Mysteries since 1983. During her first visit to Egypt with the Grateful Dead in 1978,
Internationally renowned healer and author Nicki Scully is our guest in podcast episode 149.

“Healing is by nature an alchemical process. With clear intention and resolve, we learn to use our adversarial situations to help us grow spiritually, emotionally, and even physically, which opens up a myriad of possibilities regarding how we choose to live our lives and how we relate to one another and the world. All people have inherent healing abilities that, for the most part, are not recognized or acknowledged in modern western cultures. Although our population has burgeoned since the industrial revolution and the advent of modern medical technology, many of the simple, effective, and free or easily affordable cures have been lost and largely forgotten… Regardless of our race or where we came from, most of us have been cut off from the wisdom of our ancestors for so long that we need help to remember ourselves… Within us dwell all the memories of our ancestors, and the ability to more fully comprehend new mysteries bursting forth from our unfolding universe. We are all mystics and sages waiting to remember what we’ve misplaced or forgotten.”

“Alchemical Healing brings together innovative techniques of shamanism and energetic healing with the principles of alchemy, creating a practical form of physical healing, therapeutic counseling, and spiritual growth. The author provides ways to integrate spirit and matter, to develop communications between divinity and humanity, to retrieve knowledge, and to influence physical reality in order to achieve healing and transformation…”

Austin Coppock is a writer, astrologer and student of esoteric lore based in Los Angeles. He works as an astrological consultant, teacher, writer and speaker and is the current president of the Association for Young Astrologers. His approach to astrology is rooted in history and tradition, yet open to contemporary developments and concerns. Austin’s work also encompasses the critical and often ignored overlap between astrology and magical traditions, such as Hermeticism. He has written extensively on astrology, including hundreds of weekly columns, dozens of articles, and Astrological Almanacs for 2011 – 2014. His writing has been featured by The Mountain Astrologer, and his work on the decans, 36 Faces, was recently published by Three Hands Press. Austin has also lectured publicly, including at the Esoteric Book Conference.

“Austin Coppock’s Almanac is an indispensable tool for watching the astrological year. Not only does it provide insightful information about the celestial events of the moment but it also allows one to account for those moments when planning events, decisions, or other activities. All this, plus it’s written in an entertaining and illuminating style.” – William Kiesel, Director at Ouroboros Press and the Esoteric Book Conference

“There is a thread that runs through over four millennia of astrological and magical history, a cord that binds ancient Egypt with the Hellenistic world, the Arabian empire, India, the European Renaissance and even touches the present. That thread is the Decans, a division of the earth’s sky into 36 sections. These 36 ‘Faces of Heaven’ are more than just a curious footnote in the history of archaeo-astronomy. First emerging in ancient Egypt, they have moved with the corpus of Hermetic material, reincarnating in the starry wisdom of culture after culture. Ostensibly a gear in astrology’s encompassing clockworks, the Decans have also long been a key to accessing legions of spirits. For several millennia and in multiple cultures, magicians have looked at these 36 faces and seen gods, choirs of angels, hordes of demons, and a host of daimones staring back at them, each with its own unique powers. Far from going undocumented, this gallery of faces has been painted and drawn by a host of astrologers, sorcerers and artists, and they can be found on walls of Italian villas as well as in the pages of grimoires. Weaving together astrology and magic, divination and sorcery, time and sky, this thread of esoteric history deserves more than the footnotes it has so far received. In this work, Austin Coppock follows the Decans through history, charting their trajectory through time and culture. Using the ring of keys which history provides, the 36 doors are flung open, revealing their mysteries to magician and astrologer alike. Each decan, its image, and its specific powers are examined in detail, as well as its permutations in the planetary aspects. Featuring original images specially created for each Decan by Bob Eames, 36 Faces is an invaluable resource for magicians, astrologers, and historians of magical semiotics.”

I appreciate Austin’s approach to astrology because he is so grounded in history, tradition, and connections to other esoteric arts while demonstrating its efficacy in modern times. I recommend his almanac and look forward to his book!
In the Occult of Personality Membership Sect...]]>Greg KaminskyyesDr. David Shoemaker – Living Thelemahttp://occultofpersonality.net/dr-david-shoemaker-living-thelema/
http://occultofpersonality.net/dr-david-shoemaker-living-thelema/#commentsFri, 01 Aug 2014 03:54:08 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1959http://occultofpersonality.net/dr-david-shoemaker-living-thelema/feed/3Dr. David Shoemaker, author of Living Thelema: A Practical Guide to Attainment in Aleister Crowley’s System of Magick, is our guest in podcast episode 147. Dr. David Shoemaker is a clinical psychologist in private practice,Dr. David Shoemaker, author of Living Thelema: A Practical Guide to Attainment in Aleister Crowley’s System of Magick, is our guest in podcast episode 147.

“The system of spiritual attainment developed by Aleister Crowley is notoriously challenging in its scope. Adapted from the popular podcast segment of the same name, Living Thelema brings a welcome approachability to Crowley’s material, without diminishing the depth of the system. The author focuses on the practical and experiential aspects of the path of Thelema, allowing the reader to grasp the true transformative power of the system.
Beginners and advanced practitioners alike will find much useful advice here, as Shoemaker brings his characteristic down-to-earth style to bear on topics such as ritua...]]>Greg KaminskyyesRobert Sullivan and The Royal Arch of Enochhttp://occultofpersonality.net/robert-sullivan-and-the-royal-arch-of-enoch/
http://occultofpersonality.net/robert-sullivan-and-the-royal-arch-of-enoch/#commentsTue, 08 Jul 2014 16:45:23 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1940http://occultofpersonality.net/robert-sullivan-and-the-royal-arch-of-enoch/feed/3Robert W. Sullivan IV, author of The Royal Arch of Enoch: The Impact of Masonic Ritual, Philosophy, and Symbolism, is our guest in podcast episode 146. Robert W. Sullivan IV is a philosopher, historian, antiquarian, jurist, theologian, writer,Robert W. Sullivan IV, author of The Royal Arch of Enoch: The Impact of Masonic Ritual, Philosophy, and Symbolism, is our guest in podcast episode 146.

Sullivan’s book, The Royal Arch of Enoch, argues that a high degree Masonic Ritual, developed in France in the eighteenth century, included elements of the Book of Enoch (AKA 1 Enoch) which was considered lost until Freemason and traveler James Bruce returned to Europe with copies from Ethiopia in 1773. These copies were supposedly not translated into English until 1821. Sullivan also documents the symbolic restoration of the Sun as the premier icon in all of Freemasonry and as the supreme emblem of imperial administration and religiosity lifted from the Ancient Mysteries, incorporated in the Abrahamic faiths, and carried on in both Blue Lodge and High Degree Masonry.

Sullivan begins the interview describing how his esoteric interests, especially Freemasonry, were stimulated by studying Frances Yates’ writings while studying at Oxford University as a young man. Then he describes his journey to compose The Royal Arch of Enoch, a voluminous tome that clocks in at about 700 pages. His central thesis about the Holy Royal Arch Masonic degree(s) being derived from 1 Enoch associates the origins of Freemasonry with the Watchers, or fallen angels, and is therefore somewhat controversial.

In addition to the origins of the Royal Arch degree ritual, Sullivan also concentrates on the disparate philosophical streams that influenced Freemasonry, especially those of the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation.
“… [B]oth systems (Craft Masonry and the High Degrees) were able to posit a view of mechanistic oneness as the end point of society which identified de-facto heresy with the solar drive to eliminate imperfection through Tridentine Counter Reformation militancy and high degree Masonic rituality. The Counter Reformation was begun at the Council of Trent between 1545 an 1563 at the close of the Thirty Years War. Its purpose consisted of four major elements: 1) Religious Orders, 2) Ecclesiastical Reconfiguration, 3) Spiritual Movements, and 4) Political Dimensions. It was, essentially, a reactionary movement based on the Protestant Reformation of Martin Luther seeking to discourage, infiltrate, and thwart Protestantism at both outward (Baroque art and architecture) and secret levels. It is this thread or nexus between the Masonic High Degrees and the Catholic Revival that has fed so many wrong and confused theories of Illuminati-Masonic rooted conspiracies over the years. The more sober reality however is not dark conspiracy but a profound and subterranean alliance between Catholic magisterium and apologetics and the “cooler, rational mystique of ancient texts” to provide mythic legitimacy for the principle agenda of modernity – to recreate society along heliocentric lines at a metaphysical...]]>Greg KaminskyyesVincent Bridgeshttp://occultofpersonality.net/vincent-bridges/
http://occultofpersonality.net/vincent-bridges/#commentsFri, 13 Jun 2014 20:34:27 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1922http://occultofpersonality.net/vincent-bridges/feed/4Vincent Bridges (1952 – 2014), expert on Sir Edward Kelley and co-author of The Ophanic Revelation: Angelic Science and the End of Time – a unique book about Enochian Magick, is our guest in podcast episode 145. Author, esoteric historian,Vincent Bridges (1952 – 2014), expert on Sir Edward Kelley and co-author of The Ophanic Revelation: Angelic Science and the End of Time – a unique book about Enochian Magick, is our guest in podcast episode 145.

Author, esoteric historian, and researcher Vincent Bridges is the co-author of six books, and has been involved with several television documentaries on subjects ranging from Atlantis to the Holy Grail but primarily focused on Nostradamus. A self-proclaimed “anthropologist of the strange,” Bridges is an initiate of five major traditions: Buddhism, Islam, Gnostic Christianity, Wicca and Western Ceremonial Magick. He is also a pioneer in the field of psycho-acoustic therapy for early childhood trauma, was the first geomancer listed in Who’s Who in Service to the Earth, and was instrumental in the creation of three schools or educational organizations, The Fifth Way Mystery School, The Newport Earth Institute in Newport, New Hampshire and Pendragon College. Bridges also organizes and leads tours to sacred sites in Southern France and the Czech Republic, and has led tours in the past to India, Tibet and Egypt. He currently lives in Prague, where he is also a consultant to an alchemical museum.

We begin the interview by reviewing the life and times of Sir Edward Kelley, including his alchemical activities. Bridges is endeavoring to write Kelley’s biography and resides in Kelley’s last known residence in Prague. Through his efforts, he just might rehabilitate Kelley’s reputation in the eyes of those who view him in only a negative light.

Of course, we delve into Kelley’s work with John Dee and his visionary experiences. Bridges discusses The Ophanic Revelation, which may be the most unique book on the subject of Enochian that I’ve ever encountered.
“Four hundred years ago, higher intelligence in the form of angels communicated a geometrical, symmetry-based, DNA-coded language pattern capable of producing a rapid expansion of consciousness and an increase in symbolic cognition. This shift in awareness – from a local primate-based consciousness to a much larger, universal, non-local reality – is based on what we now call plasma physics. The angels gifted us with this most unusual language system as a kind of life raft/survival radio set as they knew mankind would need a shift in consciousness to survive the precessionally timed apocalyptic season that now threatens to close in upon us. This book represents the first serious attempt to examine the angelic, or Ophanic, system given to Dr. John Dee from multiple viewpoints, using history, physics, biology, mathematics as well as art and sacred geometry to explore the unexpected depths of meaning and interconnection in this unique communication.”

Although Bridges’ perspective is multidisciplinary and may be somewhat speculative, he has led a working group through the entire Enochian system over the course of two years with rather remarkable results. While certainly not a traditional viewpoint, Bridges’ conclusions seem to provide modern relevance that may have been previously unrecognized.

Whatever you may think of Bridges’ conclusions, which I perceive as being controversial, there is no doubt that a great deal of research went into his book. I found The Ophanic Revelation intriguing, and the sense of mystery and immediacy that it conveyed to be remarkable. I’d encourage those interested in learning more about this work to read some of the articles linked below from the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition.
]]>Greg KaminskyyesAndrieh Vitimushttp://occultofpersonality.net/andrieh-vitimus/
http://occultofpersonality.net/andrieh-vitimus/#respondWed, 28 May 2014 19:06:28 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1911http://occultofpersonality.net/andrieh-vitimus/feed/0Andrieh Vitimus returns to the show in podcast episode 144. He appeared previously in podcast 64. Andrieh Vitimus is the author of the acclaimed book Hands on Chaos Magic: Reality Manipulation Through the Ovayki Current and is also published in several...Andrieh Vitimus returns to the show in podcast episode 144. He appeared previously in podcast 64.

In the interview, Andrieh talks about his magickal activities since publishing Hands-On Chaos Magic, including the Quantum Life Science Institute, and his radio show, Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole. We spend considerable time discussing chaos magick and its characteristics. We also delve into Vitimus’ personal history and experience to better understand his perspectives on esoteric theory and practice, including the practical applications of magick.

The Sacred Alignments & Dark Side of Sigils represents a groundbreaking study in modern magick and the exploration of consciousness. In this book, Robert Podgurski describes the discovery of the Grid Sigil and its uses as he initially intuited them. This particular sigilic tool bridges the gap between Enochian Magick and Austin Spare’s unique system of sigilization. However, the Grid Sigil is not so much the primary focus of this book as is the elaboration upon the methodology and underpinning elements developed in support of this discovery that should prove to be of key interest to practitioners and researchers of western esotericism. And it is ultimately the goal of the author to provide other aspirants with his unique perspective on this complex framework as a means to promote and inspire innovations in new-aeonic magick. Furthermore, unlike many new age and modern metaphysical works prevalent today The Sacred Alignments & Dark Side of Sigils is bolstered by over 25 years of well documented research into Hermeticism, Enochian Magick, Eastern theories of Yantra and Tantra, as well as Geomagnetism, Sigils, etc. The scholarly dimension of this book should appeal to serious students of Renaissance occultism as well as to modern Thelemic magicians.

Robert’s book, The Sacred Alignments & Dark Side of Sigils, introduces the reader to the Grid Sigil – an original and innovative magical tool that is designed not only to focus and empower internalized workings but also to play an active part in external applications such as dowsing and elemental workings. The “Sacred Alignments” of the title explores the pathways that exist between the Grid Sigil and other forms of magick: principally Enochian but also those of Crowley, Spare, Bertiaux, and others. In addition to providing a practical exposition of Sigil Magick, “The Sacred Alignments” offers a scholarly exploration of its diverse roots and inspirations, from the thought of Robert Grosetteste and medieval Western concepts of the Divine Signature, to Eastern antecedents such as Tantric Philosophies of Yantra and Mandala. The work is illustrated with black and white and color plates, including a number by Linda Falorio, and also serves as a celebration of magick as an artful endeavor.

“… I do believe that one of the objectives of this book, as would be the case for any text of magick, is to bring all or at least some of the reader’s previous notions of magick to task and to hopefully initiate a process of introspection and re-evaluation thereof. Hopefully the reader will bring the precepts of this book along with their own perceptions under scrutiny. So I have developed this study not just as a modern how-to manual, but as a critical and historical study of the earth’s grid, i.e. the geomagnetic web, sigils and evocation and mantra as they all relate to my recent discovery of the Grid Sigil… Ultimately, the use of the Grid Sigil is aimed at affording a higher sense of the interaction between the weave o...]]>Greg KaminskyyesLee Gerrard-Barlowhttp://occultofpersonality.net/lee-gerrard-barlow/
http://occultofpersonality.net/lee-gerrard-barlow/#commentsThu, 20 Mar 2014 15:47:39 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1884http://occultofpersonality.net/lee-gerrard-barlow/feed/2Lee Gerrard-Barlow, a Mesmerist, hypnotherapist, N.L.P. practitioner, and teacher is our guest in podcast episode 142. Lee Gerrard-Barlow has been working therapeutically with trance states, meditation, and yoga based practices for the past 20 years.Lee Gerrard-Barlow, a Mesmerist, hypnotherapist, N.L.P. practitioner, and teacher is our guest in podcast episode 142.

Lee Gerrard-Barlow has been working therapeutically with trance states, meditation, and yoga based practices for the past 20 years. He trained as an N.L.P. Master Practitioner with Dr. Richard Bandler’s Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and studied hypnosis and hypnotherapy with The Institute of Clinical Hypnosis in London. He treats clients using individually tailored therapies based on his expertise in these disciplines. Lee is an Official Premier Trainer for ISI/CNV International, the continental school of Dr. Marco Paret, teaching the arts of Magnetism (Mesmerism) Fascination and ‘Presence based therapy’. Lee occasionally hosts courses and has written articles for magazines and online journals.

“Many people are familiar with ‘Hypnotism’ in it’s various forms such as stage hypnosis and hypno-therapies, and its modern hyper-packaged cousin neuro-linguistic programming (N.L.P.)… You may think that hypnotism is strange enough, but a curious fact is that even serious students of disciplines such as clinical hypnosis are rarely taught or even encouraged to research the far stranger origins of their profession. That to which I refer is Mesmerism. These days, many people are completely unaware of where the commonplace word ‘Mesmerism’ derives from. Mesmerism is the term coined due to Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), a most curious Austrian gentleman, well worthy of further research, who practised and popularised a therapeutic form known as ‘Animal Magnetism’. He believed in the reality of a ‘universal fluid’ that surrounds every living thing, that can be directed at will by an individual operator… Although it is of popular belief that Mesmerism (also known as animal magnetism or simply magnetism) fell into obscurity purely due to its being disqualified by the medical profession. In fact it was the hiatus caused by the onset of the French Revolution that obscured the art… Word of the powerful healing abilities of Mesmerism persisted despite its going underground, until in England in 1884 the surgeon James Braid of Manchester, after having personally observed the demonstrations given by the traveling Mesmerist Charles La Fontaine, made an attempt at laying the mystical belief in animal magnetism to rest by making a concise study of it; thereby forming the foundation of the so-called science of certain procedures that are to this day utilised by hypnotherapists.” – Lee Gerrard Barlow in “Modern Day Mesmerism“

“… Mesmerism can be very useful for the regeneration of nervous debilitation; for getting an individual re-centered and re-balanced and to regain a healthy relationship to ones own body and increased awareness of ones own energies which amounts to the same thing . Mesmerism was regarded as a panacea by many ancient practitioners. It is very much a matter of experimentation, application and research by the individual practitioner. Reading up on all the historic accounts tells you what was achieved and how the various practitioners related to their art. In my work I actually utilize a variety of hypnotic methods in therapy tailored to each individual case, but Mesmerism itself is definitely the most rapid method for getting people into deep states where real change can occur. So this art forms the basis of it all. What is also amazing, is that it is completely ‘non verbal’, and used for ‘inductions’, it is by far the best method compared to the lengthy verbal inductions of traditional hypnosis.” – Lee Gerrard-Barlow in “yesJames Robert Frenchhttp://occultofpersonality.net/james-robert-french/
http://occultofpersonality.net/james-robert-french/#respondThu, 13 Mar 2014 16:54:54 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1876http://occultofpersonality.net/james-robert-french/feed/0James Robert French, author of Lady Midnight, an occult fiction thriller, is our guest in podcast episode 141. James Robert French has been studying and practicing Magick and Paganism for eighteen years. He is an initiate and leader of the Open Source ...
James Robert French, author of Lady Midnight, an occult fiction thriller, is our guest in podcast episode 141.
James Robert French has been studying and practicing Magick and Paganism for eighteen years. He is an initiate and leader of the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn and an initiate of Ordo Templi Orientis, as well as a Novice Priest in the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica. His first novel, Lady Midnight, is published by Concrescent Letters. You can find his blog, Strange Onion Peelings, at jamesrfrench.wordpress.com.

Lady Midnight is not your typical occult fiction. It’s a page-turner that hooked me from the start with an intriguing mixture of radical politics and esotericism. If you’re looking for a dose of modern occult fiction – check it out. As James says, Lady Midnight is, “A different take on the occult fiction genre. Darker, edgier, more character oriented. Moral ambiguity abounds. There is no “Dr. Taverner” here.”

“Fifteen years ago, they murdered her lover and pinned the crime on her. Now, Andrea Styx uses her psychic abilities and occult training in the service of an organization dedicated to the downfall of a corrupt system. But the arrival of a new protege brings her past screaming to her own back door, and awakens doubts about the purpose to which she has dedicated her life.
She has a plan.
The Cosmos has other ideas…”
We also spend considerable time during the interview discussing James’ involvement with the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn, as well as Ordo Templi Orientis, his writing experience, and his thoughts on occult fiction in general.

A nationally known writer, speaker, and publisher in alternative spirituality, Mitch Horowitz is vice-president and editor-in-chief at Tarcher/Penguin, the division of Penguin books dedicated to metaphysical literature. Mitch frequently writes about and discusses alternative spirituality in the national media, including CBS Sunday Morning, Dateline NBC, NPR’s All Things Considered, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, BoingBoing, Time.com, and CNN.com. He appears in recent mini-documentaries on the history of positive thinking, Ouija Boards, and occult New York.

In his recent book, Mitch Horowitz has taken a serious look at positive thinking – a philosophy that tends to divide people into either skeptics or adherents. Similar to his earlier book, Occult America, which dealt with New Age philosophy and the development of the U.S.A., Horowitz is able to prudently steer his way through the historical landscape, extracting the gold from these ideas while simultaneously dealing with criticisms, both valid and not. The result is a book which, in my opinion, is the single best history of positive thinking and the movement behind it that I’ve ever encountered. Refusing to bow to simplistic dichotomies, Horowitz cracks the door, allowing in light that will provide readers with a way to appreciate and evaluate positive thinking in a more balanced manner than previously possible. While I personally appreciated the subject of Occult America more than this one, I believe that One Simple Idea is ultimately a more important and more accessible work.
“This work powerfully reviews and recounts the meaningful effect and positive influence that a host of modern thought leaders have made in shaping contemporary life. Their wisdom needs be followed and practiced by all to produce an effective and progressive civilization.” — Edgar Mitchell, Sc.D, Apollo 14 astronaut
“A most remarkable history and explanation of that deeply American idea that thought is causative, that thoughts are forces, and that thinking can literally change the world. It can. Mitch Horowitz shows how — with real heart, with real learning, and with real answers to all of the facile thinking, both pro and con, around this ‘one simple idea.’ Easily the best book on the subject we have now.” — Jeffrey J. Kripal, J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religious Studies, Rice University
In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, Mitch Horowitz has graciously provided an excerpt from One Simple Idea.Mitch HorowitzOne Simple Idea: How Positive Thinking Reshaped Modern Life by Mitch HorowitzOccult America: White House Seances, Ouija Circles, Masons,]]>Greg KaminskyyesIAO131http://occultofpersonality.net/iao131/
http://occultofpersonality.net/iao131/#commentsFri, 31 Jan 2014 06:31:13 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1818http://occultofpersonality.net/iao131/feed/9IAO131, author of Naturalistic Occultism: An Introduction to Scientific Illuminism and Thelema Sutras is our guest in podcast episode 139. IAO131 is also the co-producer of Speech in the Silence podcast, the creator and editor of The Journal of Thelemi...IAO131, author of Naturalistic Occultism: An Introduction to Scientific Illuminism and Thelema Sutras is our guest in podcast episode 139. IAO131 is also the co-producer of Speech in the Silence podcast, the creator and editor of The Journal of Thelemic Studies, and author of many other essays on the subjects of Thelema, occultism, psychology, philosophy, mysticism and Magick.

“Naturalistic Occultism is the attempt to understand occultism without positing anything supernatural or even found outside of the mainstream social and natural sciences such as psychology and neurology. It is the attempt to cut superstitious beliefs and acts away from the practice of occultism, ceremonial magick in particular, with a critical and pragmatic eye… It is a continuation of Aleister Crowley’s motto for the A.’.A.’., “The Method of Science, the Aim of Religion.” In this sense, Naturalistic Occultism is essentially a form of – or just another name for – Scientific Illuminism. It holds that you need not look farther than psychology and neurology for naturalistic explanations of the various aspects of the occult.” – IAO131, Naturalistic Occultism, p.9
One of the major takeaways from Naturalistic Occultism and IAO131’s perspective is that the psychologization of mysticism and magickal practice is in no way denigratory, but rather celebrates the power of the human psyche.

We also spend time discussing Thelema Sutras, a wonderful book that uses the style of Eastern religious texts to expound the concepts of Thelema.
“Thelema Sutras? What kind of nonsense is this? Well, in short, it’s the kind of nonsense I enjoy writing. Sutras are Eastern texts, specifically those of Hinduism and Buddhism. They come in many forms and many styles, but they represent the various manifestations of the Light of the Gnosis as they appeared throughout the East. I personally view Thelema as more than simply being in the Western Mystery Tradition or being the next Divine Covenant after Islam. Much of Thelema involves uniting and transcending opposites, and the East-West dichotomy is one of these. It therefore occurred to me to approach the self-same Mysteries but with the style and attitude of someone from the East rather than the typical Western Hermetic-Qabalistic-Occultist approach.” – IAO131, excerpt from the Preface to Thelema Sutras

In addition, IAO131 has recently released The Parables and Lessons of Liber LXV, which was originally published as a series of essays online (starting here). Perhaps one of the most prolific modern Thelemic writers, IAO131’s work is important for his insights, level of engagement with the primary texts, and the affect on his readers. With humility and a sense of humor, IAO131 continues to produce high-quality analysis and spread the word of the Law.

In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, IAO131 discusses his psychological commentary on Liber AL vel Legis, the Ordo Templi Orientis, and more. Join us!IAO131yesFrater Ashen Chassanhttp://occultofpersonality.net/frater-ashen-chassan/
http://occultofpersonality.net/frater-ashen-chassan/#commentsTue, 31 Dec 2013 06:21:02 +0000http://occultofpersonality.net/?p=1809http://occultofpersonality.net/frater-ashen-chassan/feed/9Frater Ashen Chassan F.’. N.’. F.’., author of Gateways Through Stone and Circle, published by Nephilim Press, is our guest for an extended interview in podcast episode 138. Frater Ashen is a ceremonial magician and a purist in the art who endeavours t...Frater Ashen Chassan F.’. N.’. F.’., author of Gateways Through Stone and Circle, published by Nephilim Press, is our guest for an extended interview in podcast episode 138.

Frater Ashen is a ceremonial magician and a purist in the art who endeavours to recreate the workings found in traditional grimoires as closely as possible. His book, Gateways Through Stone and Circle details his reproduction of Trithemius of Spanheim’s The Art of Drawing Spirits into Crystals to great success. His book is a boon to traditional ceremonial magicians, providing a detailed account of Frater Ashen’s work, including the spectacular holy table and an archangelic evocation.

Gateways Through Stone and Circle is a fine publication and a treasure as a primary source document that describes the process and result of the modern practice of traditional ceremonial magick. Frater Ashen deserves a lot of credit for being the one who brought this particular method into the light by sharing his experiences.

The book goes into meticulous detail about the preparation of the equipment for the ritual and this is its greatest strength in my opinion. Additionally, Frater Ashen’s personal account of the Archangel Cassiel is captivating. For those interested in the subject, Gateways Through Stone and Circle is a required reading and highly recommended.

In 2004, Mark Flaherty was diagnosed with severe, chronic eczema that left him bedridden and in constant pain. Western doctors were no help despite their advanced diagnostic techniques and treatments. As a last resort, he moved to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest to live among ayahuasca shamans. Shedding the Layers tells the story of Mark’s time there, and how he went from being a skeptic to understanding that there is more to life than he ever thought possible. Since his remarkable healing, Mark has become an astrologer and desires to share his story, so that others may benefit from his journey.

““As the power of fear and hatred threatens to drive me back over the edge, I desperately try to focus on the positive. The harder I try, the faster my head vibrates, about to explode… Something suddenly cracks, followed by a rushing sound… I vomit again and again. The stench of death fills the air. Seconds later, the purest peace I’ve ever felt fills my body. I open my eyes and see the world for the first time, as it really is: pristine, beautiful and perfect…” Thirty-year-old computer programmer Mark Flaherty’s world is turned upside down when he is diagnosed with an incurable illness, and a voice within insists the answer lies with ayahuasca—a sacred, visionary plant medicine. Flaherty leaves his native England to live among the shamans of the Peruvian Amazon where he participates in hundreds of ayahuasca ceremonies. What he discovers about himself and the nature of existence is as shocking as it is inspiring. This captivating true story of a man’s fight to heal himself demonstrates that anything really is possible and everything does happen for a reason.”
In this interview, Mark Flaherty shares his amazing journey from sleepwalking through life to awakening via an excruciating medical condition that led him to intensive work with ayahuasca shamans in the rainforest. His story is compelling because of the honesty, humanity, and vulnerability that almost leaps off the pages. Don’t just take my word for it, read the reviews on Amazon.com. Highly recommended!

Please join Mark Flaherty in the Occult of Personality Membership Section for the continuation of this interview, featuring further analysis of the implications of the popularization of ayahuasca, Mark’s description of the ayahuasca ceremony and its transformational potential!

Along with co-author John W. Gonce III, Harms is also responsible for The Necronomicon Files: The Truth Behind The Legend, the definitive book about Lovecraft’s most famous literary device – the dreaded Necronomicon of Abdul Alhazred. Despite the controversies that surround the subject, Harms’ scholarship, discernment, and maturity allows him to separate fact from fiction.

In addition to discussing the Necronomicon, we also spend time on the infamous Simon who brought the book from the pages of Lovecraft’s stories into reality. Harms indicates that one reason for this was to provide a magickal grimoire for neo-pagans, or at least an example of one. This eventually segues into an exposition about Harms’ version of Hohman’s The Long-Lost Friend: A 19th Century American Grimoire.

“Originally published in 1820 near Reading, Pennsylvania, under the German title Der Lange Verborgene Freund, this text is the work of immigrant Johann George Hohman. A collection of herbal formulas and magical prayers, The Long-Lost Friend draws from the traditional folk magic of Pennsylvania Dutch customs and pow-wow healers. This is authentic American folk magic at its best—household remedies combined with charms and incantations to cure common ailments and settle rural troubles. The most well-known grimoire of the New World, this work has influenced the practices of hoodoo, Santeria, Paganism, and other faiths.”
Harms has revised and expanded the original and added crucial commentary to the existing text, making it the definitive edition of this popular folk magic book. If you have any interest in folk magick and / or modern grimoires, this book is a must-have. Harms deserves credit for his scholarly approach which informs his work and brings a level of excellence to it that’s refreshing.
In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, Daniel Harms discusses nineteenth-century occultist Frederick Hockley and Harms’ work on the re-issue of Hockley’s Experimentum, Potens Magna in Occult Philosophy, a masterpiece of esoteric publishing.Papers Falling From an Attic Window – Daniel Harms’ web siteyes